Skip to item: of 58
Information about this record Back to top
Open in Universal viewer
Open in Mirador IIIF viewer

'Memorandum by Captain Eastwick' [‎22v] (4/10)

This item is part of

The record is made up of 5 folios. It was created in 13 Jul 1868. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .

Transcription

This transcription is created automatically. It may contain errors.

Apply page layout

18. An early opportunity would, I believe, be
taken to remodel and reconstitute the Persian em
bassy. At present, it is a post not only not coveted
but, if I err not, absolutely shunned by the subor
dinates of the diplomatic service. No young attache
of any promise will go there, if he can avoid it,
nor will he stay longer than he can help; the
consequence is, that few acquire sufficient expe
rience to be afterwards of any real service in the
East, and that it is notorious that the embassy is
too often composed of individuals not the best fitted
to represent the British nation, at a Court where
the embassies of other countries are upon a very
efficient footing.
19. If the appointment rested with the Indian
Government, young Officers of the Outram, Raw-
linson, Edwardes, Kemball, stamp would be se
lected. They would consider their nomination to
the Persian embassy as the first step on the ladder
of promotion, and would bring to their duties all
that zeal and devotion which is the characteristic of
Indian political Officers, and all those qualities
which gain an ascendancy over the Asiatic mind,
and tend to spread British influence far and wide
throughout the continent of Asia. They would,
moreover, form a nursery from whence our diplo
matic agency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, headed by an agent. in the East could most advantageously
be supplied.
20. Sir George Clerk and Sir Bartle Frere,
would, I feel certain, confirm what I have stated as
to the importance of careful discrimination in
selecting Officers to fill appointments such as those
of the Persian embassy. There could not be a
more striking illustration than the influence exer
cised by Sir Henry Rawlinson, when he held for a
short time the post of Ambassador at Tehran.
While we are sailing in smooth water, it does not
much matter, but in the day of trial, which may
come upon us suddenly, the services of Officers of
the calibre and character of those I have indicated
would prove of the highest value.
21. On the above grounds, I advocate the
transfer of the superintendence of British relations
with Persia to the Secretary of State for India.
At the same time, I am aware that there are con
siderations of importance which are in favour of
allowing things to remain on their present footing.
In the first place, these constant changes are in
themselves an evil, more especially with Asiatic
Courts. They have a tendency to unsettle and
disturb the confidence placed in us, and thereby
diminish our influence.
22. It must not be forgotten, also, that the
presence of the representatives of great European
powers, and of Turkey, at the Court of Persia,
constantly gives rise to questions rather belonging
to the Department of Foreign Affairs in England
than to the Indian Minister’s, and that the course
ot policy to be pursued with regard to countries

About this item

Content

A printed memorandum written by Captain William Joseph Eastwick, member of the Council of India, London, 13 July 1868.

The document covers relations between Britain, Persia, Muscat, and Zanzibar. There is discussion of the administration of the region, and suggestions for change. The situation regarding the subsidy paid by Zanzibar to Muscat is also addressed. The East African slave trade is then discussed in this light.

Extent and format
5 folios
Arrangement

Paragraphs are numbered throughout, from 1 to 40.

Physical characteristics

Foliation: ff 21-25.

Pagination: the document has an original, printed pagination system from 1 to 9.

Written in
English in Latin script
View the complete information for this record

Use and share this item

Share this item
Cite this item in your research

'Memorandum by Captain Eastwick' [‎22v] (4/10), British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/18/B2/2, in Qatar Digital Library <https://www.qdl.qa/archive/81055/vdc_100030782368.0x00000b> [accessed 29 March 2024]

Link to this item
Embed this item

Copy and paste the code below into your web page where you would like to embed the image.

<meta charset="utf-8"><a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100030782368.0x00000b">'Memorandum by Captain Eastwick' [&lrm;22v] (4/10)</a>
<a href="https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100030782368.0x00000b">
	<img src="https://iiif.qdl.qa/iiif/images/81055/vdc_100000000788.0x000385/IOR_L_PS_18_B2_0010.jp2/full/!280,240/0/default.jpg" alt="" />
</a>
IIIF details

This record has a IIIF manifest available as follows. If you have a compatible viewer you can drag the icon to load it.https://www.qdl.qa/en/iiif/81055/vdc_100000000788.0x000385/manifestOpen in Universal viewerOpen in Mirador viewerMore options for embedding images

Use and reuse
Download this image